The extensively used MySQL model 5.7 will attain end-of-life (EOL) standing in October 2023, formally shifting all official assist to MySQL 8.0. 

What does this imply for you? Effectively, in case your website is among the many 75% of all WordPress websites nonetheless working MySQL 5.7 or older, you’ll must take steps to make sure your website doesn’t grow to be susceptible to elevated safety threats after 5.7 assist lapses, and that it’s prepared for an improve to MySQL 8.0. 

It is a vital replace, however with the right data and well timed preparation, you’ll be capable of relaxation straightforward realizing your website is working on essentially the most up-to-date variations of its underlying software program.

Prepare for the MySQL 8.0 improve—Be a part of our upcoming webinar for a dwell walkthrough!   

The next sections will take a better take a look at the 5.7 EOL and the adjustments you possibly can anticipate with MySQL 8.0. Right here’s what we’ll cowl: 

What’s MySQL?

MySQL is an open-source relational database administration system utilized by tens of millions of internet sites to retailer, handle, and retrieve structured information. It’s probably the most fashionable database programs on the earth, with varied functions starting from small private web sites to large-scale enterprise programs. 

MySQL helps a number of programming languages and powers every thing from dynamic net functions to content material administration programs (CMSs), eCommerce platforms, and extra.

Concerning WordPress particularly, the CMS is (usually) constructed utilizing a mix of PHP and MySQL, the place PHP handles the server-side processing, and MySQL manages the storage and retrieval of information.

The primary model of MySQL was launched in 1995, and the extensively used model 5.7 was launched in 2015. The latest model of MySQL, model 8.0, was launched in 2018 and can be supported via April 2026.

Why is MySQL 5.7 reaching
Finish of Life standing?

Since 2010, every model of MySQL has acquired official assist for eight years after turning into typically accessible.

MySQL 5.7, launched in October 2015, will attain end-of-life standing in October 2023, which means by November 1st, it is going to not be supported with safety patches and upgrades. 

Utilizing essentially the most present model of MySQL (model 8.0) will guarantee your website is optimized for the longer term and guarded towards a better variety of threats.

Will this alteration be widespread?

MySQL performs a important function inside WordPress, as it’s the default database administration system for over 90% of all WordPress websites. Greater than 75% of these websites use both MySQL 5.7 or an older model, which means the approaching EOL will have an effect on a variety of internet sites. 

At present, web sites hosted on WP Engine’s platform use MySQL 5.7 and can be upgraded to eight.0 earlier than November 1st. We’re helping our clients with this alteration by offering them with instruments to evaluate their website’s readiness forward of the wanted improve. 

Check your website for MySQL 8.0 compatibility

As famous beneath, utilizing Native to check your website with MySQL 8.0 and making certain your plugins and themes are all updated previous to migration will go a great distance in direction of stopping points as soon as your website has been migrated.

My website is only a weblog or brochure website. Will I be impacted? 

Sure, in case your website is utilizing MySQL 5.7. WordPress depends on the extensively used MySQL database to retailer and handle your web site’s information, and utilizing an out-of-date and unsupported model of the software program will improve the safety dangers going through your website. 

In case your website is hosted on WP Engine’s platform, we’ll not provide MySQL 5.7 and can improve all servers to eight.0 by the tip of October, making certain your website is protected towards safety threats.

On the identical time, updating to MySQL 8.0 might trigger compatibility points with current plugins and themes, which is why it’s so vital to arrange and assess your readiness for this obligatory improve now, no matter your web site sort.

How will I do know what’s going to occur to my website?

To check your website’s performance utilizing MySQL 8.0, we advise utilizing Native, a robust WordPress improvement device for establishing websites in a staging surroundings in your native machine. Utilizing Native, you possibly can obtain a model of your website and run it on MySQL 8.0 to confirm performance. 

Earlier than testing your website, you must also be certain your whole put in plugins and themes are updated—even those you’re not at the moment utilizing in your website. In lots of instances, making certain your plugins and themes are up to date will enable you keep away from compatibility points on account of the replace. And by testing your website this manner in Native, you possibly can relaxation straightforward realizing the migration to MySQL 8.0 gained’t negatively have an effect on your website. 

To study extra about testing for MySQL 8.0 performance utilizing Native, take a look at this detailed assist article. For an in depth walkthrough, you may also be part of WP Engine’s upcoming webinar, the place we’ll present a better take a look at every thing it’s essential know in regards to the coming MySQL 5.7 EOL and improve to model 8.0.

What advantages can I anticipate to see after upgrading to MySQL 8.0?

Upgrading to MySQL 8.0 can present quite a few advantages, as the newest model consists of vital performance and efficiency enhancements. Listed here are just a few of the important thing enhancements: 

• Improved Code Group and Readability 
  MySQL 8.0 introduces a number of new SQL options together with SQL Window Capabilities and Widespread Desk Expressions in addition to enhanced JSON functionality. MySQL 8.0 additionally introduces the NOWAIT and SKIP LOCKED choices, offering higher management and concurrency dealing with in transactional situations.

• Enhanced Reliability 
  MySQL 8.0 enhances reliability by making Knowledge Definition Language (DDL) statements atomic and crash-safe. Metadata is saved in a single, transactional information dictionary powered by InnoDB. 

• Better Observability and Manageability
  MySQL 8.0 considerably improves Efficiency Schema, Data Schema, Configuration Variables, and Error Logging, offering higher observability. It additionally presents distant administration, undo tablespace administration, and new prompt DDL for improved manageability.

• Enhanced Safety
  Along with turning into the one model of MySQL with energetic, official assist, MySQL 8.0 consists of OpenSSL enhancements, a brand new default authentication technique, the introduction of SQL Roles, breaking apart the tremendous privilege, password power enhancements, and extra, strengthening database safety.

• Improved Efficiency 
  The default storage engine for MySQL 8.0, InnoDB, delivers considerably higher efficiency for Learn/Write workloads, IO-bound workloads, and excessive rivalry “scorching spot” workloads. The addition of the Useful resource Group characteristic permits customers to optimize particular workloads on particular {hardware} by mapping consumer threads to CPUs.

Discover out extra about the entire enhancements present in MySQL 8.0 right here.

What can I do if the improve to MySQL 8.0 breaks my web site?

To mitigate the consequences of damaged performance in your website, it’s advisable to make MySQL 8.0 compatibility updates on a staging or improvement surroundings. This may permit you to troubleshoot and roll-back adjustments as wanted, with out affecting your dwell website in manufacturing.  

As famous above, Native is a wonderful choice for testing your website’s compatibility with MySQL 8.0. As a result of Native creates a replica of your web site in your native machine (and never on-line) it’s an inherently secure, safe, and easy-to-use choice as you put together for the improve.   

Along with the above choices, WP Engine clients will obtain detailed details about their web site(s) and scheduled updates to MySQL 8.0, which WP Engine will carry out on their behalf. As at all times, clients can attain out to our Assist Workforce, who can be accessible to assist in the event that they run into points. (Use code: mysql8).

How lengthy do I’ve to arrange for this?

MySQL 5.7 will attain its finish of assist in October, so over the following three months it would be best to put together your website for this improve. That mentioned, it’s advisable to not wait till the final minute as some fixes might require extra time to deal with. Assessing your website’s compatibility with MySQL 8.0 in a staging surroundings (akin to Native) might help you keep away from pointless downtime with the improve.

Can WP Engine assist me with this?

WP Engine’s staff of WordPress specialists is at all times pleased to assist reply any questions you might have. You may converse to a WP Engine consultant now, or, for those who discover website code-related points our staff is unable to assist, we have now an in depth company companion listing the place you possibly can join with vetted professionals.

Getting ready for MySQL 8.0: TLDR

• The overwhelming majority of WordPress websites are at the moment utilizing MySQL 5.7, which is able to attain EOL standing on the finish of October 2023.

• To stop the elevated risk of safety vulnerabilities, WordPress websites ought to improve to MySQL 8.0, which can be formally supported via April 2026.

• WP Engine’s platform will not provide MySQL 5.7 and can improve all servers to eight.0 by the tip of October. We’re helping our clients with this alteration by offering them with instruments to evaluate their website’s readiness forward of the wanted improve.

• Upgrading to MySQL 8.0 can present quite a few advantages, together with vital performance and efficiency enhancements. Nonetheless, the improve may additionally trigger compatibility points with current plugins and themes.

• In lots of instances, ensuring your plugins and themes are updated will enable you keep away from compatibility points on account of the replace.

• You must also check your website’s performance utilizing MySQL 8.0 in a staging or improvement surroundings. We propose utilizing Native, the place you possibly can obtain a model of your website and run it on MySQL 8.0 to confirm performance. 

• For a better take a look at utilizing Native to check your website for MySQL 8.0, be part of WP Engine’s upcoming webinar, the place our WordPress specialists will stroll you thru the method. 
• WP Engine’s staff of WordPress specialists is at all times pleased to assist reply any questions you might have. You may converse to a WP Engine consultant now, or, for those who discover website code-related points our staff is unable to assist, we have now an in depth Company Accomplice Listing the place you possibly can join with vetted professionals.